Fountain pen



R. T. WING FOUNTAIN PEN Jan. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27,1946 JNVENTOR. assed 1 Jan. 8, 1952 R. T. WING 2,581,740

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed March 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

WIN

FOUNTAIN PEN 4 Sheet 4 Filed March 27, 1946 INVENT0.R I fizmseldlgg/ wIII Patented Jan. 8, a 1

emme, Bill-:42 1; 2;

This. invention relates to v fountains pens and; element is utilized foradjusting hedmftingmen; has-to dotmoreuparticularly. with a; fountainpennibitg e'effectany, desired line Width;wgthm; ts; which will. operatesuccessfully Withlndiai ink. range. f and is, therefore, capablev ofbeing employedtas; Otherand;furtherlobjectsofsmminventiorgvlqill; adrafting pen. Itfurtherrelates to aynovels be apparent as the detaileddescriptionpro, drafting pen nibrand: to'.a penniowhichcan be gresses. vused in place of theidrafting nibifor writing or Referringitoithedrawings; lettering. a Fig'iirejl'v istan elevationalgview ofe. a;fountain Referenceistmadeeto my copendingappiication pen:inJaccordance.with my; invention;

Serial No, 26',898;1filedvMayo 13, 19.48, forming; a. i Fig; Zisanenlarged; longitudinal, .sectionala division of the presentapplication andidisclosing view'takenzaiong 'line Z.-'2 -vfFig., 1;;and: claiming certain subject. matter. disclosed Fig. 3-tis identicalwith Fig. zuexce t that the.

n pp on nib'adjiisting and cleaner tongue isshowm in its.

oneof the primary. objects-.ofzmy. inventiontis. 55 1; etm t a mgngtoprovide means effective :to obviate or :ofise.t. the Fig. 4 1's 2,view similar :to-Fi'gszands 3 except; t ndency oflndia k kly to clogi hecapillary. that inthis instance the pen' nib" and overflow f dchann whin ssa lys p e n governor are-shown in tIieir-re'tracte'd positio'fountaini-pense-thusmaking'itlpossible t provide. Fig 5 'a m e qn m mg st o a fountain pen which will operate-successfully view fithatlpdrtiohlbfafh ipn-of:Figg'r hibh withthati-ikindof:mk,.onwith-;any.zothert ink.. 2,0,, i r qa ir i b nr g ;;1 jnlifsivqAnother objectis :to provide ajsuccessfnlg fqun- Fig 6transversezsectional .v wt a tain rulingipen. v.- v v i gzg i .7 Afurther object is to provide a fountain ruling. 7 transverseSectional.viewdtakenvalo penwhjch canfeasilyibekept in'continuoysmp- '7'bf g-5' I i eration :for. relatively;1ong; periods;and;which, also, v.is readily.adaptedgfonquickaadjustmenttasitosline fif' fig y 91 1 91?93, k Still another object is to provide; at drafting? 9 1s aniedgwlseqetall'vigw orrulingpen nib which canbe used successfully; as a.component part of: mysnewj fountain vpen.

An additionalobject; issto provide.a;fiexible. pen nibv of smalLdiameter suitable for, writing andf'letteringand .whichisnottdisposedtochatter Another object. .is to provide atfiexible muntaim n a .M V pennibwhich issuitableifornwritingand :letter- 3 51 1?? 5 9K??? ing' andwhich can be. used inmnnew fountain iHETJ? qifi n li. i pen in place ofthe drafting.nib.,-' dmal ?9!9 ?1 'z fi tt;

I have found; that. by ,providinga suitable; cleaner elementvwhiehisxmounted. in and movable. i -:1 en lengthwise of: the. capillary feed:channel; it; is. 4o loneine 147 151.4923 possible and practicable toclear said. channel; RQIP PQMQ 7 1!? c fi filfli whenever-it becomesobstructedbyireason of the 50 ink 'congealing orrpartially-s congealing'theriein; a. w i t z "?a fi setiionj atenal ne iea andby virtue ofsuch-provision I am able-to ipro: fir-15 9 l duce a fountain p'eniwhichcan= successfullyrbe Fi 3 W QSV -TITSG sggltign t algenalong line a l eiszi al ew: t n: 9 but-wii ine ai1= on 49. 2 e199;

used with India'ink-andthe like. i i 5;.o g 151.;

Incarrying out my invention I prefer: to utilize l 11 t ans er e. QQWQQ;aken QlQPQEJWQ a novel arrangementwhich brings aboutsaimovenrt- 7;Qf.14,1

ment of the cleaner 'elementralon'g thevfeedn chane, Fig..- l'missattgnsvdrgse sea ion iaikie gai ll,-, 7 nel-in'response topressuresappliedetolthe end OfiEigH14,.butillustmtinaazmodificatio ofthe pen nibthus enabling a user to quickly; nthfii ea n prin sflihfilifiilifil-EFHQI'PEQ 0f and-"easflv-clearthe feedrchannel whenever:it; nib...are disposed in: parallel in the hprizontal;. becomesclogged.p n 'I'- also prefer; in carrying. out my inventionyto. Fig. 18. is,atransverse; section taken; alongline; employ-acnovel-constructionwheremithelcleaner- IBe-VIBLYoflEiELH; a 1

Fig. 24 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line24-44 of Fig. 20..

The pen structure of Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, comprises an elongatebarrel I, into the rear end of which is screwed a cup-like piston 2 (seeFig. 5). Mounted in the forward end of the barrel I and normallyassuming the position in which it is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is anoverflow governor andieed element 3 having a lengthwise bore 4 extendingfrom the front end thereof to the point 5 and proportioned to receivesnugly the shank of a pen nib 6, which is shown in detail in Figs.10-19, inclusive.

The governor 3 has a considerable number of radial fins 1 spaced apartto form intervening narrow capillary cells 8 which constitute, jointly,an auxiliary reservoir for the reception and storage of ink which may beforced out of the main reservoir in excess of what is requiredforwriting.said cells being operative, whenfilled, to feed out the storedink to the nib. Extending from end to end of the governor on the upperside thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2 is a narrow radial slot 9. This canbeseen in the sectional views, Figs. 6 and '7.v Slot 9 functions as acapillary conduit through which from the reservoir I is conveyed to nib6 and also to the capillary cells 8. Governor 3 has a rearwardlyextending shank I] which is bored axially to receive a breathertube orfill stem l2, the front end of which is slidably telescoped in saidbore. Projecting forwardly from tube l2 and anchored thereto is a sheetmetal tongue [3, shown edgewise' in Fig. 9. Tongue I3 is secured to tube12 by means of a laterally extending lug M which projects throughanopenihg in the wall of said tube. This lug also serves to break up"any obstruction due to congealed ink or foreign matter in that part ofslot 9 which extends along the shank H. An-

other lug l projecting laterally from'tongue I13 also functions to breakup obstructions in slot'9. Tongue l3 has adaterally extending portion IBwhich is designed to enter'a slot 46 (see Fig. in the shank of the pennib and is effectiveto breakup obstructions therein whenthe pennib ismoved rearwardly as hereinafter described. Tongue l3-also has a portionI! which lies in slot 9'above the'Shankof the pen nib and serves tobreak upobstructions inslot 9 near the open edge thereof. Tongue 13further includes a long', narrow portion'l8 which lies within the pinnib and extends lengthwise thereof. Thisportion serves both'to break upobstructions inside the pen nib and also to effect linewidth'adjustments of the nib when the nib is of the type shown in Figs.to 24-which is a drafting or ruling nib. Breather tube or fill stem I2extends allthe way to the rear of the pen, (see Fig. 5) and nor-' mallyabuts the inside of the end wall of piston Z. A'valve I9 is fixedlymounted on tube l2 and forms an abutment for helical spring 20 which, inturn, pressesforwardly against governor 3.

The valve I9 forms a part of the subject matter of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 655,07? filed March 18, 1946, which has maturedinto Patent No. 2,509,465, dated May 30, 1950. It has no essentialsignificance so far as the present invention is concerned, although itis used in conjunction therewith.

As previously stated, the fountain pens of the present invention aredesigned primarily for use with India ink which has a distinct tendencyto congeal rather quickly and, for that reason, is indisposed tocontinue to flow freely and continuously in a channel of capillarydimensions.

To meet that situation, the pen of Figs. 1 to 9 issodesigned that bypressing inwardly on'the nib, the latter is caused to recede, togetherwith governor 3, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. During this operationcleaner tongue l3 remains stationary while the governor and nib moverelativelythereto. The rearward movement of the governor is opposed byspring 20 which operates to return the governor and nib to normalposition as soon as the retractive pressure on the nib is removed. Thebackward and forward movement of the governor and nib relatively to thestationary cleaner tongue serves to stir up the partially congealed inkin the capillary feed channelsof both the governor and the nib and thiscauses the ink again to flow. In using. the pen the operator from timeto time, as required, presses the end of the nib against some convenientfirm surface.

The nib 6 is depicted in detail and will now be described. But beforeentering upon such description, it should be explained that this is awriting or lettering nib andnot a drafting nib, and that the primaryunderlying object is to provide a .pen ofvery small dimensionslaterally, which will write without chattering and which will spread atthe pointiif shading is desired) and whichis. rugged enough towithstand.

being pressed into the barrel without suffering impairment, and isadapted to accommodate thecleaner tongue.

For purposes of description, nib 6 may concvenientlybe consideredascomprising three major parts, namely: a, frontportion 30, a resilientin-,. termediate portion 3| and a rigid shank portion 32. Fig. 10 is aview looking downwardly on the nib, as it is held when writing; and itwill be seen from inspection ofthis view and of the sectional view, Fig.15, that the front portion 30 has a vertical slit 33 which divides saidfront portion symmetrically and constitutes an ink feed channel. The twonib sections or blades 34 and35 which result from slittingthe frontportion are of solid cross-section, as shown in Fig. 15. Said. bladesare preferably formed at their ends as shown in Fig. 19, from which itwill be seen that there is a narrow contact. surface or writing pointat36 and a relatively broad contact surface at 31. The blades are soformed in order to provide a fine writing point at 36 and a broadwritingpoint at 31.

In use it is generally desirable that the blades- 34 and 35 spread apartin response to writing,

pressure just as an ordinarynib spreads when writing. But if the presentnib, being very small laterally (the shank is about one-sixteenthinchdiameter), were...constructed. in the in Figs.10 to 19.-

I-Iowever, it is not essential that. this feature be retained. .That isto say,,the end of thenib could, if desired, be so formed as to, providetwo identicalwriting points.

manner of an ordinary pen nib, it would, chatter very badly. and wouldfor that reason be quite unsatisfactory. To meet that situation, I haveprovided a resilient intermediate. portion 31 which is so consrtuctedthat it permits the nib to. flex and the blades to spreadand yet is, sorigidv laterally at the place where rigidity is needed that chatteringis avoided. Putting. the matter. another way, I obtain the effect of anon-chattering broad mid-portion within small. dimensional limits. Toachieve that end, I twist the nihninetyv degrees at the point 39, and Iform thetwo blades. at the intermediate portion 3| into fiat springs, orthe equivalent, as best illustrated in Fig. 17 The two leaf springs 40and 4| are, respectively, continuations of blades 34 and 35; and saidsprings are so disposed as to the planes in which they. lie, flatwise(see Fig. 17;), that they have components of fiexure laterally, inopposite directions. In other words, when writing pressure is applied totheend of the nib, spring 40 has a component of flexure in the directionindicated byarrow 42, while spring 4| has-a component of fiexure inthedirection of arrow 43; but the principal componentsof fiexure are in thedirections indicatedby the arrows 44 and 45-Which is to say, nearlyvertical. Thus, springs 49 and 4t-willyield to writing pressure andproduce a desirable degree of spreading of the nib at the writing point,yet each of said springs is so wide in the horizontal plane-thatchattering is avoided, whilexat the same time the springs are confinedwithin a very constricted area cross-sectionally. This results from thefact that the springs are positioned one above the other-which is madepossible by the ninety degreetwist at 33.

The flatwise planes of springs 40 and 4| as viewed in Fig. 17 aredisposed at angles A and B to the horizontal plane-which angles may be,for example, fifteen degrees each, depending upon the extent to which itis desired that the blades spread apart in response to writing pressure.Angles A and B may be anything from zero, as shown in Fig. 17a, to sayforty-five degrees. If said angles are of zero magnitude, the bladeswill not spread in response to writing pressure. On the other hand, ifsaid angles are too large, there may be a tendency for the pen tochatter. Moreover, by making said angles larger, the widthwise dimensionof the springs is incidentally decreased, if the over-all diameter ofthe nib is to be kept within a specified limit, and that, of course,would tend to detract from the non-chattering characteristic of the nib.Generally speaking, angles A and B of fifteen degrees each, or somewhatless, are satisfactory when it is desired to produce a nib which willspread; but there is nothing Particularly critical about that angularvalue. If it is desired merely to realize flexibility without anyspreading at the point of the nib, the springs 40 and 4| may be disposedone above the other in parallel horizontal planes as depicted in Fig.17a.

The cross-sectional view of Fig. 16- is taken at a point where blades 34and 35 are undergoing twist. From that point rearwardly the bladesgradually change in cross-sectional configuration until they assume therectangular form of springs 40 and 4 l.

The shank 32 of the nib has a lengthwise slot 46 (Fig. for accommodationof the cleaner tongue l3see Fig. 4. And said slot extends forwardly tothe point 41 where it connects with an axia1 bore 48 which is ofsuflicient size, crosssectionally, at all points to clear the cleanertongue. In each of the cross-sectional views of Figs. 16, 1 7, 17a andis cleaner tongue 13 is shown;

:it is to. be noted that when using. the nib of Figs. 104130.19, tongue.13'v does not function tospread the blades of the. nib except as an moi?dent to. clearing obstructions. It performsits nib adjusting functiononly when using a drafting nib such as that of Figs. 20 to 24,inclusive.

Nib E. is'prvented from rotating. by, means of a pin 49 which issecured. in the governor. and is flattened to ent'erslot 46.

Movement of tongue, 43 to effect adjustment of a drafting nib-vaccomplished by partially unscrewing piston 2--'-see Fig. 5. Tube 1.2 isthus causedto recede under the pressure exerted by spring 20, andv this.efliects a corresponding retraction oi. tongue (3. l'n referring to thevertical plane as respects thepen nib of Figs. 10-19, I mean the plane.along which Fig. 14 is taken; and in. referring to the horizontal plane.I mean the. plane along which Fig. 13 is taken.

The drafting. nib. 19. illustrated in Figs. 20. to 24 may be substitutedfor thelettering nib 6 of Figs. row 19. The. nib 19. includes a forwardportion 83. and. a shank portion 32' substantially identical withtheshank 32 ofnib 6. The various reference nmnerals applied to the.shank 3.2 correspond to those applied to the shank 32. but with primeindications.

The'iorwa'rd portion of nib 19 is divided lengthwise. by nib slits 86 toform a pair or: complementary: tines or blades 83 and 84 similar tothose ofa conventional. ruling pen. Blade 83 is milled to a reducedthickness at 85150 render said blade resilient laterally, so. that thetwo. blades can easily be spread apart at the front end for varying thewidth of line produced by the nib. Bore 82 is tapered at its forward endas shown in Fig. 21, and the tongue I3 engages the two sides of bore 82in the manner of a wedge. Bore 82 is of rectangular configuration atsection 22, as shown in Fig. 22, being thus conformed to the rectangularcross-section of the tongue.

Tongue I3 serves also as a means for breaking up any obstruction in theink feed channel between the blades, and it does so by passing betweenthe blades in response to a retractive move, ment of the nib effected bypressing the nib inwardly of the barrel, as described in connection withthe nib 6.

I claim:

1. A fountain pen comprising an elongate barrel, a feed element mountedin the front end or said barrel and movable lengthwise thereof to alimited extent, a spring n rma ly holdin said feed element in itsforwardmost position, a pen nib mounted in and carried by said feedelement and normally projecting from the front end of said barrel, a capin threaded engagement with the rear end of said barrel, an elongatemember telescopically connected at its front end with said feed elementand extending rearwardly through said barrel and engaging said cap atits rear end. said spring continuously urging said elongate memberrearwardly, and a tongue-like member anchored to the forward end of saidelongate member and extending forwardly therefrom, said nib having anaxial passageway through which the forward portion of said tongue-likemember passes, said nib and feed element being retractable against theopposition of said spring in response to pressure applied to the frontend of the nib.

2. A fountain pen comprising an elongate barrel, a feed elirintinountedin the front end of said barrel and movable lengthwise thereof to alimited extent, a spring'normally holding said feed element in itsforwardmost position, a pen nib projecting from the front end ofsaidbarrel and seated in a bore in said feed element extendinglengthwise from the front end thereof, said feed element having a radialslit extending lengthwise from end to end thereof and communi'catingwith said nib, said slit constituting an ink feed channel for conveyingink to said nib, a tongue-like member disposed in said slit and movablelengthwise thereof, the forward end of said tongue-like member extendinglengthwise through said nib to a point near the front end thereof, abreather tube telescopically connected to the rear end of said feedelement and extending rearwardly therefrom through said barrel, a pistonthreaded to the rear end of said barrel and acting as an abutment forthe rear end of said tube, said tongue-like member being anchored tosaid tube and movable therewith, said spring continuously urging saidtube rearwardly.

3. A pen comprising a barrel having an ink reservoir, an overflow inkgovernor .slidably mounted in said barrel, a pen nib carried by saidgovernor and having an ink feed channel connected in ink feedingrelation to said reservoir and governor, a spring urging said governor.and nib forward, a cleaner element having at least a portion extending.in .said feed channel, and means restraining said cleaner elementagainst movement upon rearward movement of said governor and nibeifected by application of pressure upon said nib, whereby said cleanerelement is effective to clear said channel of obstructions.

4. A pen comprising a barrel having an ink reservoir, an overflow inkgovernor vslidably mounted in said barrel, a pen nib carried by saidgovernor and havingan ink feed channelcon nected in ink feeding relationto said reservoir REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 427,444 Smith May 6, 1890 576,949Carver Feb. 9, 1897 586,979 Spencer July 27, 1897 758,934 Purdy May 3,1904 1,242,062 Solemink Oct. 2, 1917 1,501,761 Everson July 15, 19242,128,456 Dusenbury, Sr. Aug. 30, 1938 2,195,430 Shea Apr. 2, 19402,289,998 Salz July 14, 1942 2,360,297 Wing Oct. 10, 1944 FOREIGNPATENTS Y Number Country Date 322,353 Germany June 28, 1920

